WIMBA SESSION WITH MRS. HILL5.4.1

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

5.4.1 “The Emperor’s 3 Questions” It once occurred to a certain king, that if he always knew the right

time to begin everything; if he knew who were the right people tolisten to, and whom to avoid; and, above all, if he always knew whatwas the most important thing to do, he would never fail in anythinghe might undertake.

And this thought having occurred to him, he had it proclaimedthroughout his kingdom that he would give a great reward to any onewho would teach him what was the right time for every action, andwho were the most necessary people, and how he might know what wasthe most important thing to do.

“The Emperor’s 3 Questions” cont. And learned men came to the King, but they all answered his

questions differently.

In reply to the first question, some said that to know the righttime for every action, one must draw up in advance, a table of days,months and years, and must live strictly according to it. Onlythus, said they, could everything be done at its proper time.Others declared that it was impossible to decide beforehand theright time for every action; but that, not letting oneself beabsorbed in idle pastimes, one should always attend to all that wasgoing on, and then do what was most needful. Others, again, saidthat however attentive the King might be to what was going on, itwas impossible for one man to decide correctly the right time forevery action, but that he should have a Council of wise men, whowould help him to fix the proper time for everything.

“The Emperor’s Three Questions” cont.

But then again others said there were some things which could notwait to be laid before a Council, but about which one had at once todecide whether to undertake them or not. But in order to decidethat, one must know beforehand what was going to happen. It is onlymagicians who know that; and, therefore, in order to know the righttime for every action, one must consult magicians.

Equally various were the answers to the second question. Some said,the people the King most needed were his councillors; others, thepriests; others, the doctors; while some said the warriors were themost necessary.

The story cont.

To the third question, as to what was the most important occupation:some replied that the most important thing in the world was science.Others said it was skill in warfare; and others, again, that it wasreligious worship.

All the answers being different, the King agreed with none of them,and gave the reward to none. But still wishing to find the rightanswers to his questions, he decided to consult a hermit, widelyrenowned for his wisdom.

The hermit lived in a wood which he never quitted, and he receivednone but common folk. So the King put on simple clothes, and beforereaching the hermit's cell dismounted from his horse, and, leavinghis body-guard behind, went on alone.

“The Emperor’s Three Questions” cont.

When the King approached, the hermit was digging the ground in frontof his hut. Seeing the King, he greeted him and went on digging.The hermit was frail and weak, and each time he stuck his spade intothe ground and turned a little earth, he breathed heavily.

The King went up to him and said: "I have come to you, wise hermit,to ask you to answer three questions: How can I learn to do theright thing at the right time? Who are the people I most need, andto whom should I, therefore, pay more attention than to the rest?And, what affairs are the most important, and need my first attention?"

The story cont.

The hermit listened to the King, but answered nothing. He just spaton his hand and recommenced digging.

"You are tired," said the King, "let me take the spade and workawhile for you."

"Thanks!" said the hermit, and, giving the spade to the King, hesat down on the ground.

When he had dug two beds, the King stopped and repeated hisquestions. The hermit again gave no answer, but rose, stretched outhis hand for the spade, and said:

"Now rest awhile-and let me work a bit." But the King did not give him the spade, and continued to dig. One

hour passed, and another. The sun began to sink behind the trees,and the King at last stuck the spade into the ground, and said:

The story cont.

"I came to you, wise man, for an answer to my questions. If you cangive me none, tell me so, and I will return home."

"Here comes some one running," said the hermit, "let us see who it is." The King turned round, and saw a bearded man come running out of the

wood. The man held his hands pressed against his stomach, and bloodwas flowing from under them. When he reached the King, he fellfainting on the ground moaning feebly. The King and the hermitunfastened the man's clothing. There was a large wound in hisstomach. The King washed it as best he could, and bandaged it withhis handkerchief and with a towel the hermit had. But the bloodwould not stop flowing, and the King again and again removed thebandage soaked with warm blood, and washed and rebandaged the wound.When at last the blood ceased flowing, the man revived and asked forsomething to drink. The King brought fresh water and gave it tohim. Meanwhile the sun had set, and it had become cool. So theKing, with the hermit's help, carried the wounded man into the hutand laid him on the bed. Lying on the bed the man closed his eyesand was quiet; but the King was so tired with his walk and with thework he had done, that he crouched down on the threshold, and alsofell asleep--so soundly that he slept all through the short summernight. When he awoke in the morning, it was long before he couldremember where he was, or who was the strange bearded man lying onthe bed and gazing intently at him with shining eyes.

The story cont.

"Forgive me!" said the bearded man in a weak voice, when he sawthat the King was awake and was looking at him.

"I do not know you, and have nothing to forgive you for," said the King. "You do not know me, but I know you. I am that enemy of yours who

swore to revenge himself on you, because you executed his brotherand seized his property. I knew you had gone alone to see thehermit, and I resolved to kill you on your way back. But the daypassed and you did not return. So I came out from my ambush to findyou, and I came upon your bodyguard, and they recognized me, andwounded me. I escaped from them, but should have bled to death hadyou not dressed my wound. I wished to kill you, and you have savedmy life. Now, if I live, and if you wish it, I will serve you as yourmost faithful slave, and will bid my sons do the same. Forgive me!"

The King was very glad to have made peace with his enemy so easily,and to have gained him for a friend, and he not only forgave him,but said he would send his servants and his own physician to attendhim, and promised to restore his property.

“The Emperor’s Three Questions” cont.

Having taken leave of the wounded man, the King went out into theporch and looked around for the hermit. Before going away he wishedonce more to beg an answer to the questions he had put. The hermitwas outside, on his knees, sowing seeds in the beds that had beendug the day before.

The King approached him, and said: "For the last time, I pray you to answer my questions, wise man." "You have already been answered!" said the hermit, still crouching

on his thin legs, and looking up at the King, who stood before him. "How answered? What do you mean?" asked the King.

The end of “The Emperor’s Three Questions”

"Do you not see," replied the hermit. "If you had not pitied myweakness yesterday, and had not dug those beds for me, but had goneyour way, that man would have attacked you, and you would haverepented of not having stayed with me. So the most important timewas when you were digging the beds; and I was the most importantman; and to do me good was your most important business. Afterwardswhen that man ran to us, the most important time was when you wereattending to him, for if you had not bound up his wounds he wouldhave died without having made peace with you. So he was the mostimportant man, and what you did for him was your most importantbusiness. Remember then: there is only one time that is important--Now! It is the most important time because it is the only time whenwe have any power. The most necessary man is he with whom you are,for no man knows whether he will ever have dealings with any oneelse: and the most important affair is, to do him good, because forthat purpose alone was man sent into this life!"

Now for the assignment – 5.4.1 1. Would you describe the characters in “Three Questions” as flat or round? Do

you think the characters are the most important aspect of the story?

A round character is a major character in a work of fiction who encounters conflict and is changed by it. Round characters tend to be more fully developed and described than flat, or static, characters. If you think of the characters you most love in fiction, they probably seem as real to you as people you know in real life. This is a good sign that they are round characters.

Flat characters are minor characters in a work of fiction who do not undergo substantial change or growth in the course of a story

The King The Hermit The Bearded Man And are these character the most important aspect of the story

Question 2 in 5.4.1

2. What do you think the theme of “Three Questions” is? Just think about the answers to these questions.

Remember theme is the central idea, moral, or lesson in a literary work.

So the theme of this story is…..

Question 3 on 5.4.1

3. The hermit says that now is “”the only time that you have any power.” What do you think he means?

The most important time is ______now_________________

The most important person is____ The most important thing to do is __ Relate all 3 answers to the concept of

the here and now.

Question 4 on 5.4.1

5. Less than halfway through the story, the king first asks the hermit his questions.  Instead of hearing his answer then, we and the king have to wait through the king's work, medical care, and full night's sleep before the hermit answers.  Explain how Tolstoy organizes the story—how he uses time as a force in his storytelling—to support this story's ideas about time.

Tolstoy illustrates the concept of the importance of the moment and the importance of the most important person being the person you are with at this moment as he takes you through the plot of the story. The King learned to value time or the present moment with the person at that moment. And the king illustrated that he understood this as he did kind deeds for the bearded man by attending to his wounds. He did not pawn it off on anyone else. He made the bearded man the important one.